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National Geographic photographer's surprise encounter with deadly predator

Oct 18, 2012 at 19:38:15 GMT

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National Geographic photographers can find themselves in unusual, extreme and potentially dangerous situations, trying to capture the 'never before seen' images the magazine is famous for. However, contributing photographer Paul Nicklen's story of his close encounter with a huge Leopard Seal (one of the top predators in the Antarctic), shows there's still opportunity for surprises in the job.

We heard about this video following Nicklen being given the Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the year 2012 award.

Comments

Total comments: 105

The ultimate photographer's gig.

0 upvotes

Haha I wonder if the seal mistook him for another. Nat Geo always capture amazing rare stuff. Some awesome pics he has got too.

0 upvotes

What a cute baby animal :)

0 upvotes

Yes, that must be exactly what the leopard seal was thinking about the photographer!

1 upvote

Did the seal mistake Paul Nicklen as a baby seal? Kinda like female money taking care of a dog?

0 upvotes

Wonderful story, and those graphic images are simply outstanding. Well done Nicklen, and to DPR for bringing it to us.
Charles.

2 upvotes

That photographer knows what good equipment is! Thanks for sharing DPR :)

1 upvote

That is really what you took from the video?

0 upvotes

Yes!

1 upvote

I'm here a lot...sometimes, I read something that makes me really glad I came, this is one of those times. Thanks DPR...

10 upvotes

That is so Cool!!! Thanks for sharing! :)

0 upvotes

More of this please... no more AyPad or AyPhone for goodness sake!

6 upvotes

Oh you poor baby, there is a HTC One X review for you.

3 upvotes

It's a seal. Very deadly to the fish and penguins it eats.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Scary - A female diver was killed by a leopard seal in Artarctica some years back. Somehow, the seal looks Giger-like.

0 upvotes

She was snorkelling and the consensus at the time was the leopard seal mistook here for a large penguin or possibly a seal since leopard seals will eat other seals.

0 upvotes

Hallelujah Dpreview! I hope this is one (hopefully not the last) of your new steps recently into a different conception of you site development. We need more of THIS alongside what you're already were doing. Thank you.

3 upvotes

Paul Nicklen has just won the "2012: Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year" award:

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/temporary-exhibitions/wpy/category.do?category=56&group=4

I think this is why DPReview recovered the video.

Comment edited 5 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

That makes sense. I somehow skipped that sentence before clicking on the video. Thanks for clarifying.

0 upvotes

@ willing Wil: I think that sentence was not there in the beginning... I didn't see it either...

0 upvotes

Wow!!!

0 upvotes

So cool! pun intended, haha

0 upvotes

Is this still considered "news"? The YouTube link was posted back in 2009.. Interesting story nonetheless..

5 upvotes

Great video, Thanks!

0 upvotes

Excellent. Great article.

0 upvotes

This guy has some balls. No only he has the guts, but he actually delivers a fantastic story. Thumbs up!

1 upvote

Wow! You don't realize how BIG those things are until you see one sized up against a full-grown man!!
Does this guy have the best job in the world or what?

3 upvotes

Last time a female offer me anything cost me a months pay. Of course I was on shore leave back in the 70's.

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

5 upvotes

He must have HUGE balls to get into the water with an animal like that.

11 upvotes

Amen, brother. LOL :-)

0 upvotes

He should have offered her a sandwich.

3 upvotes

Wow. Very cool.

0 upvotes

Saw this on TED about six months ago, great story

0 upvotes

First time I've seen it, thanks DPR! :)

Comment edited 21 seconds after posting

3 upvotes

I saw this quite a while ago, still good stuff.

0 upvotes

certainly waow....

1 upvote

If a giant leopard seal the size of a grizzly wants me to eat a penguin, I'd eat the penguin.

29 upvotes

yepper! lol balios.....

2 upvotes

This is old but still amazing!

1 upvote

Wow, great story. Thank you, DPR, for posting this.

1 upvote

Total comments: 105


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